At 345 metres above sea level, in the southernmost village of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, you’ll find a true honey haven.

Prina, a fragrant and picturesque village, is one of those places you’ll want to add to your list. On Friday, August 22, the village hosts the Honey Festival, one of the best-known celebrations in the region, honouring the honey that’s deeply rooted in the local tradition.

The event features Cretan folk music by Giorgos Koudoumoyannakis and Michalis Charkiolakis, with musicians Vangelis Bagourakis (lute), Stelios Titomichelakis (guitar), and Kostas Pilidis (percussion).
It all kicks off at 9 PM, in the courtyard of Prina's primary school.
Entrance: €17

Doxa Giannadaki, president of the local cultural association, explains that the wider region — Prina, Kalamafka, Selakano — is among the finest beekeeping zones in Crete. Beekeepers even bring their hives here from across the island.
“We have every kind of flowering here — from pine trees in the forest to thyme and sage,” she says.

At the entrance of the festival, there will be stalls featuring local producers and others who work in the area, showcasing their honey-based products.
You can sample rakomelo, pick up honeycomb, propolis, and, of course, all kinds of honey.

The cultural association will be offering guests sweet treats made with honey — xerotigana, melomakarona, honey cheese pies, and more irresistible bites.

Prina is also home to a small honey museum, where visitors can explore the world of bees and the secrets of honey production.

Mrs. Giannadaki recalls how Prina was once a village of beekeepers. She remembers both her grandfather and father tending to their bees.
Today, only about 40 people live here permanently, though in the summer that number rises to 150. There are currently just four professional beekeepers living in the village.

Apart from the museum (which opens by appointment), it’s worth stopping by the central church of Afentis Christos, the village fountain, and of course wandering through the cobbled streets, where flower-filled courtyards and colourful potted plants await.

Prina is close to Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra, while Kalo Chorio — with its lovely beach — is just 6 kilometres away.
You’ll find villas and guesthouses in the area if you’re looking for a peaceful place to stay, just a short drive from all the summer buzz.